The 2026 World Cup group stage has had its big finish as the final fixtures concluded on Saturday, with the most spectacular finale saved for the final seconds of group play.At the end of a bizarre match in which both sides did their best to win, lose and draw, Algeria looked to have snatched a victory with Riyad Mahrez’s 94th-minute strike. Defeat would have eliminated Austria, but there was still time for a staggering equalizer from substitute Saša Kalajdžić, who scored with his second touch of the match and the last play of the game.In far more measured circumstances, Mexico was the first team to confirm qualification to the last 32, with a 1–0 victory over South Korea in its second group game. A third straight win, clinched with a 3–0 scoreline against Czechia, confirmed El Tri finished top of Group A with the full nine points.The two other hosts, the U.S. and Canada both booked their stays in the tournament for a fourth game—though Canada could only do so as runner-up after losing 2–1 to Switzerland. Mauricio Pochettino’s team, meanwhile, kept top spot despite a last-gasp 3–2 defeat to Türkiye.Many more of the big hitters made it through and the bracket has now taken shape. Here’s a rundown of every fixture in the World Cup’s first-ever round of 32.NEXT: World Cup Third-Place Table Group Table: How It Works, As Things StandConfirmed Round of 32 Matches at the 2026 World CupSouth Africa vs. CanadaCanada face its first African opponent in the next round. | Emilee Chinn/Getty ImagesLocation: Los Angeles, United StatesStadium: SoFi StadiumDate: Sunday, June 28Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BSTAs Group B runner-up, Jesse Marsch’s Canada is set to face South Africa, who caused a minor shock by beating South Korea 1–0 to go through as the second-best team in Group A.Bafana Bafana recovered from a listless opening day defeat to Mexico to earn a draw with Czechia, before a final day victory. Canada, by contrast, started its group stage campaign well, drawing 1–1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and beating Qatar 6–0 before a disappointing final-day defeat to the Swiss to leave them in second.Neither of these two has ever won a World Cup knockout match.Brazil vs. JapanBrazil coasted into the knockouts. | Hannah Peters/FIFA/Getty ImagesLocation: Houston, United StatesStadium: NRG StadiumDate: Monday, June 29Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m BSTBrazil surprised no-one by making it to the knockouts after seeing off Scotland 3–0 in the third and final Group C matchup.Carlo Ancelotti’s men take top spot by virtue of a better goal difference, having finished on seven points—the same as Morocco. It has been paired with Japan, who booked a date with the five-time winner after a 1–1 draw with Sweden, which confirmed its spot as runner-up in Group F.Interestingly, Japan came out on top the last time these two met, winning a friendly 3–2 last October.Germany vs. ParaguayGermany is far from being a finished product. | Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesLocation: Boston, United StatesStadium: Gillette StadiumDate: Monday, June 29Kickoff Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT / 9:30 p.m BSTWhich Germany will show up? Julian Nagelsmann’s side played out a bizarre group stage. After an oddly underwhelming 7–1 thrashing of Curaçao, Germany was arguably the worse side in a 2–1 win over Côte d’Ivoire before making sure of its inferiority against Ecuador.Paraguay had its own ups and downs. After suffering through the ritual humiliation of rolling over against the U.S. on opening night, Gustavo Alfaro’s battlers showed its true self in a hard-fought 1–0 tussle against Türkiye. A goalless draw against Australia suited everyone, apart from the poor souls who had turned up to watch in Santa Clara, Calif.Netherlands vs. MoroccoMorocco has impressed so far at the World Cup. | Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty ImagesLocation: Guadalupe, MexicoStadium: Estadio BBVADate: Monday, June 29 / Tuesday, June 30Kickoff Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT / 2 a.m. BST (Tuesday, June 30)Netherlands capped an impressive Group F performance with a 3–1 win over Tunisia, securing its first place status.This sets up a mouth-watering matchup with the Group C runner-up, Morocco, who only trailed Brazil by goal difference. Adding to the intrigue, Morocco stars Sofyan Amrabat, Anass Salah-Eddine and Noussair Mazraoui are all Dutch-born.WIN FIFA WORLD CUP 2026™ FINAL TICKETSCompete against the world. | SPORTS ILLUSTRATEDCote d’Ivoire vs. NorwayCôte d’Ivoire fans have high expectations. | Isaiah Vazquez/Getty ImagesLocation: Dallas, United StatesStadium: AT&T StadiumDate: Tuesday, June 30Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BSTNorway had the chance to top Group I with a win against France in its first round finale only for Ståle Solbakken to throw the game an hour before kickoff. Neither Erling Haaland nor Martin Ødegaard played at all for a much-changed side which was torn apart by a full-strength France side.Nevertheless, progress to the knockout rounds by any means is an impressive achievement for a country which hasn’t been to the World Cup in any capacity since 1998. Côte d’Ivoire had qualified three times this century without ever getting past the group. That has now changed.Emerse Faé’s 2023 AFCON champion is not to be sniffed at. Boasting the sharpened attacking intelligence of Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo down both flanks with the balance of grace and gusto from a midfield whose star is the breakout figure of Christ Inao Oulaï, Côte d’Ivoire will give Norway a very good game in Dallas.France vs. Sweden Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé have formed a lethal partnership. | Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty ImagesLocation: East Rutherford, United StatesStadium: MetLife StadiumDate: Tuesday, June 30 Kickoff Time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. BSTFrance cruised to the round of 32 after putting together a perfect group stage. Les Bleus came out firing with a 3–1 win over Senegal, dispatched Iraq 3–0 and then thrashed Norway 4–1. Kylian Mbappé stole the headlines, recording four goals and two assists in three matches. But his supporting cast was just as impressive. Ousmane Dembélé also found the back of the net four times, powered by a hat-trick against Norway. Michael Olise, meanwhile, tallied three assists as he effortlessly pulled the strings of the tournament’s most ferocious attack. Didier Deschamps’s men easily topped Group I and therefore get to face off with Sweden, who finished in third place of Group F. Sweden put five goals past Tunisia in its tournament opener, but was then dismantled by the Netherlands before holding Japan to a 1–1 draw. It’s a lopsided match coming to MetLife Stadium, one that France should have little trouble winning. Mexico vs. EcuadorÁlvaro Fidalgo (right) scored his first goal for Mexico against Czechia. | Ryan Pierse/FIFA/Getty ImagesLocation: Mexico City, MexicoStadium: Estadio AztecaDate: Tuesday, June 30 Kickoff Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT / 2 a.m. BST (Wednesday, July 1)The fervor in the stands at the Estadio Azteca may not match the sparks on the pitch in this meeting between two defensively sound teams. Mexico still hasn’t conceded a goal this summer while Ecuador’s entire qualification campaign was built on a foundation of stubborn defensive solidity. As Mexico manager Javier Aguirre warned before the tournament began. “At a World Cup, the team that plays the prettiest soccer does not always win. The team that knows how to compete does.”England vs. DR CongoHarry Kane will lead England out. | Erick W. Rasco/Sports IllustratedLocation: Atlanta, United StatesStadium: Mercedes-Benz StadiumDate: Wednesday, July 1Kickoff Time: 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. BSTThe first time England faced African opposition in the knockout rounds of a men’s World Cup, the Football Association’s scout Howard Wilkinson supposedly called the quarterfinal with Cameroon “a practical bye to the semifinals” in 1990. It took extra time and two penalties from Gary Lineker for the Three Lions to scrape into the next round. “Some f---ing bye that,” Chris Waddle sniped at Wilkinson.Any underestimation of DR Congo would be similarly unwise for Thomas Tuchel’s side, which has labored through a series of group games against stubborn opponents.Belgium vs. SenegalRomelu Lukaku (left) and Kevin De Bruyne (right) showed out for Belgium in a win over New Zealand. | Fran Santiago/Getty ImagesLocation: Seattle, United StatesStadium: Lumen FieldDate: Wednesday, July 1Kickoff Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. BSTOne of the most fun ties from this bevvy of fixtures awaits in Seattle. Two wonderfully talented teams who only started playing like their true selves in the final round of group games will both be striving for their best form.This is likely the ‘Last Dance’ for both cores. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku surely can’t make another tournament for Belgium (although, Axel Witsel will probably still be there in 2030) while Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly are expected to hang up their Senegal shirts this summer. Strap in.United States vs. Bosnia & HerzegovinaThe road leads the U.S. to Bosnia and Herzegovina. | Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesLocation: San Francisco, United StatesStadium: Levi’s StadiumDate: Wednesday, July 1 / Thursday, July 2Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST (Thursday, July 2)The U.S. men’s national team was already assured of Group D’s top spot, having seen off both Paraguay and Australia, so a Matchday 3 defeat to Türkiye changed nothing when it came to the bracket.Pochettino’s team will face Bosnia & Herzegovina, who booked its spot as one of the best third-placed teams, having ended Group B with four points. Unlike the more traditional ‘group winner meets group runner-up scenario,’ the expanded format meant that working out the U.S.’s potential opponent in advance was tricky.As per FIFA’s rules, the eight third-place teams will each play a team that finished first in its group. With FIFA wanting to ensure that no teams from the same group can meet again before the quarterfinals, third-place teams are slotted into the bracket accordingly.Bosnia & Herzegovina confirmation for this matchup was ultimately set in stone after Sweden drew 1–1 with Japan in Group F.Spain vs. AustriaRodri and Spain are yet to fire on all cylinders at the 2026 World Cup | Florencia Tan Jun/Getty ImagesLocation: Los Angeles, United StatesStadium: SoFi StadiumDate: Thursday, July 2Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BSTSpain will be happy to get through to the knockout rounds in one piece. A bruising 1–0 win over Uruguay brought a fitting conclusion to an underwhelming group stage for the defending European champion. One thrashing of Saudi Arabia aside, Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja has regressed to the endless skeins of harmless passes which defined the worst habits of Spain.Ralf Rangnick’s high pressing Austria side isn’t going to let Spain paint pretty passing patterns around them, especially in the closing stages of the game.Portugal vs. CroatiaCristiano Ronaldo couldn’t lead Portugal past Colombia. | Evrim Aydin/Anadolu/Getty ImagesLocation: Toronto, CanadaStadium: BMO FieldDate: Thursday, July 2 / Friday, July 3Kickoff Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT / midnight BST (Friday, July 3)The first time Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić faced off, lining up for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, it was 2008. Almost 18 years later, the pair have both won the Ballon d’Or, lifted four Champions League titles together and played 222 times alongside one another for Real Madrid.Both are remarkably still going after turning 40 and come nose-to-nose once again in Toronto’s clash of veterans.Switzerland vs. AlgeriaSwitzerland fans have been out in force this summer. | ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP/Getty ImagesLocation: Vancouver, CanadaStadium: BC PlaceDate: Thursday, July 2 / Friday, July 3Kickoff Time: 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT / 4 a.m BST (Friday, July 3)For a soccer nation as consistent as Switzerland in the modern era, it’s remarkable that the 1954 host has never won a knockout match at the competition. The Swiss have made it out of the group in each of the past three World Cups only to lose in the round of 16 on each occasion. This is unquestionably the nation’s best chance to end that run against Algeria.Australia vs. EgyptNestory Irankunda is Australia’s biggest weapon in attack. | Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty ImagesLocation: Dallas, United StatesStadium: AT&T StadiumDate: Friday, July 3 Kickoff Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT / 7 p.m. BSTFor a few fleeting seconds, Australia was playing Iran in the round of 32. However, Shojae Khalilzadeh’s winner was chalked off for offside, bumping Egypt back into second place to set up a clash between two teams who are very much prepared to sit back and strike in transition. One will have to surely assume the initiative. Argentina vs. Cabo VerdeLionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race. | Jia Haocheng/Xinhua/Getty ImagesLocation: Miami, United StatesStadium: Hard Rock StadiumDate: Friday, July 3 Kickoff Time: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. BSTArgentina only needed two games to clinch the top spot in Group J. The defending world champion opened up the tournament with a 3–0 win over Algeria, powered by a hat-trick from Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then bagged a brace in his side’s 2–0 win over Austria. He would end the group stage with a delightful free kick.La Albiceleste matched up with the runner-up of Group H in the round of 32. Before the tournament started, many anticipated Uruguay to finish second of that group, but it crashed out after failing to win a single game in the group stage. Instead, Cabo Verde finished behind Spain in Group H after recording draws against La Roja, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The results were enough to send the World Cup debutants to the knockout stage, becoming the smallest nation in history to make it past the group stage. Unfortunately for Cabo Verde, a dance with Argentina awaits. Colombia vs. GhanaMost World Cup matches feel like a home game for Colombia. | Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesLocation: Kansas City, United StatesStadium: Arrowhead StadiumDate: Friday, July 3 / Saturday, July 4Kickoff Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 a.m. BST (Saturday, July 4)This is an almighty clash of characteristics. One of the most exciting sides at this World Cup—both on and off the pitch—goes directly up against one of the most pragmatic (to use the kindest word) teams in action. Can Colombia’s zeal pierce through Ghana’s stubborn resolve? Only time will tell. One thing, however, is certain. The South Americans will be well supported.World Cup Knockout Stage BracketHow Do the Knockout Rounds Work?In the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds, the winner will be determined by the result of a one-off match. If victory is not sealed in 90 minutes, the match will go to extra time and then a penalty shootout.The victor will then advance to the round of 16, then the quarterfinals, semifinals and final on July 19.READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FCAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow